The idea behind the concept of social WiFi is pretty simple: merchants offer free WiFi service to customers who visit their stores in exchange for customers logging into their network using their Facebook or LinkedIn accounts or by giving the merchant their email address. Once the consumer gets access to the WiFi network, they are asked to like the merchant’s Facebook page, or subscribe to a mailing list. But what you (the consumer) may or may not understand is this: by logging into the merchant’s social WiFi network, you are implicitly entering into a business arrangement with the merchant, which allows them to gather your data for marketing purposes.

Nearby Friends is just one more way that Facebook can gather and monetize your private information. Some may be ok with this Faustian bargain, but if you are concerned about keeping your private information actually private, Nearby Friends is an app that you will want to avoid.

The new development in the world of smartphone applications is something called “contextual apps.” Contextual apps are mobile apps that can figure out where we are or what we are looking at and then present us with all kinds of information about that spot.

Have you heard of Heartbleed? This is a big deal if you care about your online security, as attackers can steal your website login information as well as other sensitive information like any credit card information exchanged with an online retailer website like Amazon and others. What can you do? Keep reading.